Boris Johnson's profile

Richard Sudan
Press TV, Lonndon

Boris Johnson, one of the most controversial figures to have ever held the keys to number 10, is asking Britons to vote for him, but who is the man behind the carefully crafted image?

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson was born in 1964 in New York into an upper-class family. Famously, a young Johnson said his ambition was to be ‘World King’ – British PM is clearly not a bad start.

Like many senior Conservative figures, a young Johnson attended Eton College and later Oxford University.

Johnson’s early career as a journalist in Brussels and then at The Times was short-lived after Johnson was sacked after lying in an article. After a series of TV appearances, honing the image of a laughable Toff and cultivating a Conservative base in 2001, he was parachuted into the safe Tory parliamentary seat of Henley.

Renowned for his ‘off the cuff/bumbling’ style, he has been accused of making racist and controversial comments alongside a series of public blunders leading some to question his character and motives.

Boris Johnson would eventually become London mayor in 2008, partly due to then Prime Minister David Cameron’s desire to keep Johnson away from any chance of the Tory leadership. Johnson would remain as London mayor for two terms before his next big campaign.

In 2015, Johnson decided to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union – a move some say was driven by ambition and not firm ideology. It was due, partly to Johnson leading the charge towards an EU exit that a once Eurosceptic political position gained credibility. Ultimately over 17 million Brits backed Johnson and his ilk when the votes of the referendum were counted in June 2016.

It was also the result that would drive a further wedge between himself and David Cameron and would ultimately lead to Cameron’s resignation.

There was short-lived attempt to replace David Cameron before Johnson ultimately bid his time, replacing Theresa May after her ineffective two years in charge, fulfilling at least part of his lifelong ambition.

But his short tenure as British PM has not been without its scandals. These include sordid allegations about his much-publicized personal life following his divorce from his second wife. In addition to continued allegations of racism, particularly comments previously aimed at Muslim women, Johnson was also accused of allocating City Hall funds to Jennifer Accuri, a woman he was also thought to have a relationship with.

While allegations of foul play and controversy have followed the prime minister, he has made the main theme of his premiership delivering Brexit at any cost, despite already breaking a promise to renegotiate with Brussels now claiming, if elected as prime minister he will stick to his guns.

While this election is about many issues including the NHS, which Johnson is accused of leaving on the table in future US trade negotiations, it will undoubtedly be a referendum not just on Brexit but whether the British people will see fit to back Boris Johnson with a record of lying and racism, or elect a candidate like Jeremy Corbyn who promises to end austerity spending his career on the front line, fighting for social justice.

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